Manage Your Project Portfolio, 2nd Edition

Start with Strategy and Paper

One of the problems I encounter in large organizations is that they want to see all the portfolios. They look for a tool first.

Don’t start with a tool. Start with your strategy and paper on the wall.

I have nothing against tools. However, all tools have one shortcoming: they don’t ask you if you understand the strategy, or if this work will help you implement the strategy or distract from it.

Once you have practiced reconciling your strategy with your current project portfolio, investigate tools and try one (or more). I find the discussions about strategy are more difficult than making decisions about the project portfolio.